Wizards at Clippers
THE STORY: The Washington Wizards are becoming road warriors. Washington earned its second consecutive road win after starting 0-9, smashing Portland 124-109 on Tuesday. Nick Young led the Wizards with a season-high 35 points, going 7 of 8 on 3-pointers. The Wizards go for a three-game road winning streak as they take on the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday night. The Clippers return home after going 4-2 on a six-game trip they felt they could have swept. “We could have won this whole trip out,” Chris Paul said.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Wizards), FS West (Clippers)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-22): Young helped the Wizards record a season high in points. “It just felt good getting those 3s knocked down.” Young said. “We were all jelling off each other. I feel like we are turning into a good team.” JaVale McGee had his 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds for Washington. The Wizards are 5-7 under coach Randy Wittman, who replaced Flip Saunders after an awful 2-15 start. They also have won three of their last five games.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (17-9): Caron Butler said he was caught up in the pregame ceremony when he received his 2011 championship ring from Dallas before Monday’s game. “I was very emotional. I didn't think I was going to be as emotional. … It was a great feeling. I almost cried. I had to put my head down a couple of times to try to gather myself."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Washington shot 60 percent from the field (48 of 80) and 52 percent on 3-pointers (9 of 17) in Tuesday’s victory.
2. The Clippers’ 17-9 start is their second best through 26 games in franchise history. The team started 18-8 in 1974-75 when it was based in Buffalo.
3. The Clippers’ 26-point win over the Wizards was their largest ever in Washington - and came despite the Clippers shooting just 6 of 17 from the line.